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Timer Cover

Using a self timer

Techniques

14 September 2007 11:24

Mounting your camera on a tripod and using either the self-timer or a remote release to fire the shutter is a great way of ensuring that you minimise camera-shake. But taking your eye away from the viewfinder can have some unexpected side effects. The main one concerns exposure, as without your eye to the viewfinder light can enter through it and cause your shots to underexpose.

 

The amount of underexposure varies between different cameras and the lighting conditions. If the camera is pointing towards the sun (or the main light source) the effect is minimal, but if the subject is dark and there is any bright light hitting the back of the camera it can cause the camera to underexpose by several stops. Here’s three ways to prevent this happening to your images.

 

1 Use a Viewfinder cover: If you want to use one of the automatic modes you need to make sure that no light enters the camera through the viewfinder by covering it up. Some pro models offer a built-in viewfinder blind that you can use, but most models use a slightly less convenient separate cover that you need to slot over the viewfinder in place of the rubber eyecup. You’ll often find this is supplied as part of the standard kit with the camera and attaches to the strap – you’ll probably find it still in the box if it was supplied with the camera.

 

2 Switch to manual: Light entering the viewfinder only affects the metering if you are using one of the automatic exposure modes, so you can prevent underexposure by setting the exposure manually before you move away from the camera to take the shot. In changeable conditions you need to check the exposure regularly, as the settings you make will only apply to the moment when you took the initial meter reading.

 

3 Shield the eyepiece: If you don’t have a viewfinder cover you can simply shield the eyepiece with your hand or stand behind the camera to shield it from the light when you are shooting in these conditions. You need to make sure that you don’t touch the camera and spoil the very reason that you are firing the camera remotely, but it’s just as effective as any other method, even if you do feel a little foolish standing there with your hand hovering over the camera!